diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1fbaa3ee27..2f44c57066 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -170,6 +170,8 @@ if(KWIN_HAVE_EGL)
     set(kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS ${kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS} eglonxbackend.cpp)
 endif(KWIN_HAVE_EGL)
 
+kde4_add_kcfg_files(kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS settings.kcfgc)
+
 qt4_add_dbus_adaptor( kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS org.kde.KWin.xml dbusinterface.h KWin::DBusInterface )
 qt4_add_dbus_adaptor( kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS org.kde.kwin.Compositing.xml composite.h KWin::Compositor )
 qt4_add_dbus_adaptor( kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS org.kde.kwin.Effects.xml effects.h KWin::EffectsHandlerImpl )
diff --git a/kwin.kcfg b/kwin.kcfg
index bc5170efb8..3d254fbf05 100644
--- a/kwin.kcfg
+++ b/kwin.kcfg
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
       xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
       xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.kde.org/standards/kcfg/1.0
                           http://www.kde.org/standards/kcfg/1.0/kcfg.xsd" >
-    <kcfgfile name="kwinrc" />
+    <kcfgfile arg="true" />
     <group name="MouseBindings">
         <entry name="CommandTitlebarWheel" type="String">
             <default>Switch to Window Tab to the Left/Right</default>
diff --git a/options.cpp b/options.cpp
index 798460f2ac..893b1fa894 100644
--- a/options.cpp
+++ b/options.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 #include "client.h"
 #include "compositingprefs.h"
+#include "settings.h"
 #include "xcbutils.h"
 #include <kwinglplatform.h>
 
@@ -119,30 +120,31 @@ int currentRefreshRate()
 
 Options::Options(QObject *parent)
     : QObject(parent)
-    , m_focusPolicy(Options::defaultFocusPolicy())
-    , m_nextFocusPrefersMouse(Options::defaultNextFocusPrefersMouse())
-    , m_clickRaise(Options::defaultClickRaise())
-    , m_autoRaise(Options::defaultAutoRaise())
-    , m_autoRaiseInterval(Options::defaultAutoRaiseInterval())
-    , m_delayFocusInterval(Options::defaultDelayFocusInterval())
-    , m_shadeHover(Options::defaultShadeHover())
-    , m_shadeHoverInterval(Options::defaultShadeHoverInterval())
-    , m_separateScreenFocus(Options::defaultSeparateScreenFocus())
-    , m_activeMouseScreen(Options::defaultActiveMouseScreen())
-    , m_placement(Options::defaultPlacement())
-    , m_borderSnapZone(Options::defaultBorderSnapZone())
-    , m_windowSnapZone(Options::defaultWindowSnapZone())
-    , m_centerSnapZone(Options::defaultCenterSnapZone())
-    , m_snapOnlyWhenOverlapping(Options::defaultSnapOnlyWhenOverlapping())
-    , m_showDesktopIsMinimizeAll(Options::defaultShowDesktopIsMinimizeAll())
-    , m_rollOverDesktops(Options::defaultRollOverDesktops())
-    , m_focusStealingPreventionLevel(Options::defaultFocusStealingPreventionLevel())
-    , m_legacyFullscreenSupport(Options::defaultLegacyFullscreenSupport())
-    , m_killPingTimeout(Options::defaultKillPingTimeout())
-    , m_hideUtilityWindowsForInactive(Options::defaultHideUtilityWindowsForInactive())
-    , m_inactiveTabsSkipTaskbar(Options::defaultInactiveTabsSkipTaskbar())
-    , m_autogroupSimilarWindows(Options::defaultAutogroupSimilarWindows())
-    , m_autogroupInForeground(Options::defaultAutogroupInForeground())
+    , m_settings(new Settings(KGlobal::config()))
+    , m_focusPolicy(ClickToFocus)
+    , m_nextFocusPrefersMouse(false)
+    , m_clickRaise(false)
+    , m_autoRaise(false)
+    , m_autoRaiseInterval(0)
+    , m_delayFocusInterval(0)
+    , m_shadeHover(false)
+    , m_shadeHoverInterval(0)
+    , m_separateScreenFocus(false)
+    , m_activeMouseScreen(false)
+    , m_placement(Placement::NoPlacement)
+    , m_borderSnapZone(0)
+    , m_windowSnapZone(0)
+    , m_centerSnapZone(0)
+    , m_snapOnlyWhenOverlapping(false)
+    , m_showDesktopIsMinimizeAll(false)
+    , m_rollOverDesktops(false)
+    , m_focusStealingPreventionLevel(0)
+    , m_legacyFullscreenSupport(false)
+    , m_killPingTimeout(0)
+    , m_hideUtilityWindowsForInactive(false)
+    , m_inactiveTabsSkipTaskbar(false)
+    , m_autogroupSimilarWindows(false)
+    , m_autogroupInForeground(false)
     , m_compositingMode(Options::defaultCompositingMode())
     , m_useCompositing(Options::defaultUseCompositing())
     , m_compositingInitialized(Options::defaultCompositingInitialized())
@@ -176,14 +178,16 @@ Options::Options(QObject *parent)
     , CmdAll3(Options::defaultCommandAll3())
     , CmdAllWheel(Options::defaultCommandAllWheel())
     , CmdAllModKey(Options::defaultKeyCmdAllModKey())
-    , electric_border_maximize(Options::defaultElectricBorderMaximize())
-    , electric_border_tiling(Options::defaultElectricBorderTiling())
-    , electric_border_corner_ratio(Options::defaultElectricBorderCornerRatio())
-    , borderless_maximized_windows(Options::defaultBorderlessMaximizedWindows())
-    , show_geometry_tip(Options::defaultShowGeometryTip())
-    , condensed_title(Options::defaultCondensedTitle())
+    , electric_border_maximize(false)
+    , electric_border_tiling(false)
+    , electric_border_corner_ratio(0.0)
+    , borderless_maximized_windows(false)
+    , show_geometry_tip(false)
+    , condensed_title(false)
     , animationSpeed(Options::defaultAnimationSpeed())
 {
+    m_settings->setDefaults();
+    syncFromKcfgc();
 }
 
 Options::~Options()
@@ -793,77 +797,19 @@ unsigned long Options::updateSettings()
 unsigned long Options::loadConfig()
 {
     KSharedConfig::Ptr _config = KGlobal::config();
+    m_settings->readConfig();
     unsigned long changed = 0;
-    changed |= KDecorationOptions::updateSettings(_config.data());   // read decoration settings
+    changed |= KDecorationOptions::updateSettings(m_settings->config());   // read decoration settings
 
-    KConfigGroup config(_config, "Windows");
-    setShowGeometryTip(config.readEntry("GeometryTip", Options::defaultShowGeometryTip()));
-    setCondensedTitle(config.readEntry("CondensedTitle", Options::defaultCondensedTitle()));
-
-    QString val;
-
-    val = config.readEntry("FocusPolicy", "ClickToFocus");
-    if (val == "FocusFollowsMouse") {
-        setFocusPolicy(FocusFollowsMouse);
-    } else if (val == "FocusUnderMouse") {
-        setFocusPolicy(FocusUnderMouse);
-    } else if (val == "FocusStrictlyUnderMouse") {
-        setFocusPolicy(FocusStrictlyUnderMouse);
-    } else {
-        setFocusPolicy(Options::defaultFocusPolicy());
-    }
-
-    setNextFocusPrefersMouse(config.readEntry("NextFocusPrefersMouse", Options::defaultNextFocusPrefersMouse()));
-
-    setSeparateScreenFocus(config.readEntry("SeparateScreenFocus", Options::defaultSeparateScreenFocus()));
-    setActiveMouseScreen(config.readEntry("ActiveMouseScreen", m_focusPolicy != ClickToFocus));
-
-    setRollOverDesktops(config.readEntry("RollOverDesktops", Options::defaultRollOverDesktops()));
-
-    setLegacyFullscreenSupport(config.readEntry("LegacyFullscreenSupport", Options::defaultLegacyFullscreenSupport()));
-
-    setFocusStealingPreventionLevel(config.readEntry("FocusStealingPreventionLevel", Options::defaultFocusStealingPreventionLevel()));
-
-#ifdef KWIN_BUILD_DECORATIONS
-    setPlacement(Placement::policyFromString(config.readEntry("Placement"), true));
-#else
-    setPlacement(Placement::Maximizing);
-#endif
-
-    setAutoRaise(config.readEntry("AutoRaise", Options::defaultAutoRaise()));
-    setAutoRaiseInterval(config.readEntry("AutoRaiseInterval", Options::defaultAutoRaiseInterval()));
-    setDelayFocusInterval(config.readEntry("DelayFocusInterval", Options::defaultDelayFocusInterval()));
-
-    setShadeHover(config.readEntry("ShadeHover", Options::defaultShadeHover()));
-    setShadeHoverInterval(config.readEntry("ShadeHoverInterval", Options::defaultShadeHoverInterval()));
-
-    setClickRaise(config.readEntry("ClickRaise", Options::defaultClickRaise()));
-
-    setBorderSnapZone(config.readEntry("BorderSnapZone", Options::defaultBorderSnapZone()));
-    setWindowSnapZone(config.readEntry("WindowSnapZone", Options::defaultWindowSnapZone()));
-    setCenterSnapZone(config.readEntry("CenterSnapZone", Options::defaultCenterSnapZone()));
-    setSnapOnlyWhenOverlapping(config.readEntry("SnapOnlyWhenOverlapping", Options::defaultSnapOnlyWhenOverlapping()));
+    syncFromKcfgc();
 
     // Electric borders
-    setElectricBorderMaximize(config.readEntry("ElectricBorderMaximize", Options::defaultElectricBorderMaximize()));
-    setElectricBorderTiling(config.readEntry("ElectricBorderTiling", Options::defaultElectricBorderTiling()));
-    const float ebr = config.readEntry("ElectricBorderCornerRatio", Options::defaultElectricBorderCornerRatio());
-    setElectricBorderCornerRatio(qMin(qMax(ebr, 0.0f), 1.0f));
-
+    KConfigGroup config(_config, "Windows");
     OpTitlebarDblClick = windowOperation(config.readEntry("TitlebarDoubleClickCommand", "Maximize"), true);
     setOpMaxButtonLeftClick(windowOperation(config.readEntry("MaximizeButtonLeftClickCommand", "Maximize"), true));
     setOpMaxButtonMiddleClick(windowOperation(config.readEntry("MaximizeButtonMiddleClickCommand", "Maximize (vertical only)"), true));
     setOpMaxButtonRightClick(windowOperation(config.readEntry("MaximizeButtonRightClickCommand", "Maximize (horizontal only)"), true));
 
-    setKillPingTimeout(config.readEntry("KillPingTimeout", Options::defaultKillPingTimeout()));
-    setHideUtilityWindowsForInactive(config.readEntry("HideUtilityWindowsForInactive", Options::defaultHideUtilityWindowsForInactive()));
-    setInactiveTabsSkipTaskbar(config.readEntry("InactiveTabsSkipTaskbar", Options::defaultInactiveTabsSkipTaskbar()));
-    setAutogroupSimilarWindows(config.readEntry("AutogroupSimilarWindows", Options::defaultAutogroupSimilarWindows()));
-    setAutogroupInForeground(config.readEntry("AutogroupInForeground", Options::defaultAutogroupInForeground()));
-    setShowDesktopIsMinimizeAll(config.readEntry("ShowDesktopIsMinimizeAll", Options::defaultShowDesktopIsMinimizeAll()));
-
-    setBorderlessMaximizedWindows(config.readEntry("BorderlessMaximizedWindows", Options::defaultBorderlessMaximizedWindows()));
-
     // Mouse bindings
     config = KConfigGroup(_config, "MouseBindings");
     // TODO: add properties for missing options
@@ -893,6 +839,47 @@ unsigned long Options::loadConfig()
     return changed;
 }
 
+void Options::syncFromKcfgc()
+{
+    setShowGeometryTip(m_settings->geometryTip());
+    setCondensedTitle(m_settings->condensedTitle());
+    setFocusPolicy(m_settings->focusPolicy());
+    setNextFocusPrefersMouse(m_settings->nextFocusPrefersMouse());
+    setSeparateScreenFocus(m_settings->separateScreenFocus());
+    setActiveMouseScreen(m_settings->activeMouseScreen());
+    setRollOverDesktops(m_settings->rollOverDesktops());
+    setLegacyFullscreenSupport(m_settings->legacyFullscreenSupport());
+    setFocusStealingPreventionLevel(m_settings->focusStealingPreventionLevel());
+
+#ifdef KWIN_BUILD_DECORATIONS
+    setPlacement(m_settings->placement());
+#else
+    setPlacement(Placement::Maximizing);
+#endif
+
+    setAutoRaise(m_settings->autoRaise());
+    setAutoRaiseInterval(m_settings->autoRaiseInterval());
+    setDelayFocusInterval(m_settings->delayFocusInterval());
+    setShadeHover(m_settings->shadeHover());
+    setShadeHoverInterval(m_settings->shadeHoverInterval());
+    setClickRaise(m_settings->clickRaise());
+    setBorderSnapZone(m_settings->borderSnapZone());
+    setWindowSnapZone(m_settings->windowSnapZone());
+    setCenterSnapZone(m_settings->centerSnapZone());
+    setSnapOnlyWhenOverlapping(m_settings->snapOnlyWhenOverlapping());
+    setKillPingTimeout(m_settings->killPingTimeout());
+    setHideUtilityWindowsForInactive(m_settings->hideUtilityWindowsForInactive());
+    setInactiveTabsSkipTaskbar(m_settings->inactiveTabsSkipTaskbar());
+    setAutogroupSimilarWindows(m_settings->autogroupSimilarWindows());
+    setAutogroupInForeground(m_settings->autogroupInForeground());
+    setShowDesktopIsMinimizeAll(m_settings->showDesktopIsMinimizeAll());
+    setBorderlessMaximizedWindows(m_settings->borderlessMaximizedWindows());
+    setElectricBorderMaximize(m_settings->electricBorderMaximize());
+    setElectricBorderTiling(m_settings->electricBorderTiling());
+    setElectricBorderCornerRatio(m_settings->electricBorderCornerRatio());
+
+}
+
 bool Options::loadCompositingConfig (bool force)
 {
     KSharedConfig::Ptr _config = KGlobal::config();
diff --git a/options.h b/options.h
index f910f55b22..b6de1d5965 100644
--- a/options.h
+++ b/options.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ namespace KWin
 
 class Client;
 class CompositingPrefs;
+class Settings;
 
 class Options : public QObject, public KDecorationOptions
 {
@@ -611,64 +612,6 @@ public:
     void setGlLegacy(bool glLegacy);
 
     // default values
-    static FocusPolicy defaultFocusPolicy() {
-        return ClickToFocus;
-    }
-    static bool defaultNextFocusPrefersMouse() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static bool defaultClickRaise() {
-        return true;
-    }
-    static bool defaultAutoRaise() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static int defaultAutoRaiseInterval() {
-        return 750;
-    }
-    static int defaultDelayFocusInterval() {
-        return 300;
-    }
-    static bool defaultShadeHover() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static int defaultShadeHoverInterval() {
-        return 250;
-    }
-    static bool defaultSeparateScreenFocus() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static bool defaultActiveMouseScreen() {
-        // TODO: used to be m_focusPolicy != ClickToFocus
-        return true;
-    }
-    static Placement::Policy defaultPlacement() {
-        return Placement::Default;
-    }
-    static int defaultBorderSnapZone() {
-        return 10;
-    }
-    static int defaultWindowSnapZone() {
-        return 10;
-    }
-    static int defaultCenterSnapZone() {
-        return 0;
-    }
-    static bool defaultSnapOnlyWhenOverlapping() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static bool defaultShowDesktopIsMinimizeAll() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static bool defaultRollOverDesktops() {
-        return true;
-    }
-    static int defaultFocusStealingPreventionLevel() {
-        return 1;
-    }
-    static bool defaultLegacyFullscreenSupport() {
-        return false;
-    }
     static WindowOperation defaultOperationTitlebarDblClick() {
         return MaximizeOp;
     }
@@ -720,36 +663,6 @@ public:
     static uint defaultKeyCmdAllModKey() {
         return Qt::Key_Alt;
     }
-    static bool defaultShowGeometryTip() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static bool defaultCondensedTitle() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static bool defaultElectricBorderMaximize() {
-        return true;
-    }
-    static bool defaultElectricBorderTiling() {
-        return true;
-    }
-    static float defaultElectricBorderCornerRatio() {
-        return 0.25;
-    }
-    static bool defaultBorderlessMaximizedWindows() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static int defaultKillPingTimeout() {
-        return 5000;
-    }
-    static bool defaultHideUtilityWindowsForInactive() {
-        return true;
-    }
-    static bool defaultInactiveTabsSkipTaskbar() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    static bool defaultAutogroupSimilarWindows() {
-        return false;
-    }
     static bool defaultAutogroupInForeground() {
         return true;
     }
@@ -890,6 +803,8 @@ public Q_SLOTS:
 
 private:
     void setElectricBorders(int borders);
+    void syncFromKcfgc();
+    QScopedPointer<Settings> m_settings;
     FocusPolicy m_focusPolicy;
     bool m_nextFocusPrefersMouse;
     bool m_clickRaise;
diff --git a/settings.kcfgc b/settings.kcfgc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5656eb1a18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/settings.kcfgc
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+File=kwin.kcfg
+NameSpace=KWin
+ClassName=Settings
+# options.h is needed for FocusPolicy
+# placement.h is needed for Placement::Policy
+IncludeFiles=\"options.h\", \"placement.h\"
+UseEnumTypes=true